DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University women’s basketball head coach Joanne P. McCallie along with recruiting coordinators Joy Cheek and Candice M. Jackson announced on Wednesday the signing of Oderah Chidom of Oakland, Calif., Kendall Cooper of Carson, Calif., Rebecca Greenwell of Owensboro, Ky., and Kianna Holland of Seneca, S.C. to national letters of intent to attend Duke in the fall of 2013.

“It is just amazing the kind of people they are,” commented McCallie on the class. “The values they have, the excitement about coming to Duke and their families are wonderful. It is an amazing group of student-athletes and an amazing group of parents as well. They fit right in; they did from the very beginning with our team and our staff.”

The four-member group is ranked No. 2 nationally by Blue Star Report and No. 3 by the Girls Basketball Report. Overall as a class, the Blue Devils brought in three top-10 players in various rankings for the first time since 2009, when Duke claimed the No. 1 class in the nation.

“It is neat the diversity and the versatility of the group we have signed,” McCallie said. “I think their competitive natures and their versatility are two keys to the group as a whole.”

2012 USA Basketball U17 World Championship Team:
Member of the U17 World Championship team that produced an 8-0 record and won the gold medal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands … averaged 11.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals, while starting all eight contests.

2011 USA Basketball U16 National Team:
Guided the U16 National Team to a 5-0 record and the gold medal in Merida, Mexico … started all five contests and averaged a team-high 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 steals … named Co-MVP of the tournament … hit 11 three-pointers for a 45.8 percentage … established USA U-16 single-game highs for field goals attempted (21) and three-pointers attempted (10) and set records for average points (15.6), field goals made (62) and three-pointers made (11).

2011 USA Basketball 3X3 Youth World Championship Team:
Played on 3X3 Youth World Championship team that received the honorary bronze medal … injured her ACL during the tournament as she averaged 5.0 points a game before being injuring her ACL.

High school/AAU:
Named to the preseason 2012-13 American Family Insurance ALL USA Girls Team … two-time All-State first team (2010, 2011) … Messenger-Inquirer two-time Region III Player of the Year (2010, 2011) … three-time All-District first team selection (2009-11) … holds school records for single-game points (49 vs. Dunbar) and steals (12) … lists career highs of 20 rebounds (vs. Grayson County), eight assists (vs. Owensboro) and eight blocks (vs. Union County) … Class A All-State Tournament team in 2011 after setting records for total points (122) and points in a single game … as a junior, did not play due to an ACL injury … as a sophomore, started all 35 games averaging 32.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.9 steals and 1.4 blocks … during her sophomore season, shot 48.0 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point land and 76 percent from the line … reached the 2,000 point and 1,000 rebound plateau in the 2010-11 campaign, tallying 24 games with 30+ points, eight 40+ point games and 27 double-digit rebounding games … notched a 27-8 record … All-State second team (2009) … as a freshman in 2009-10, started all 34 games averaging 26.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists … tallied 23 games with 20+ points as well as 10 30+ point performances … led her squad to an 18-16 record … averaged 18.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.5 blocks as an eighth grader … led her team to a 21-10 record … started playing varsity basketball in the seventh grade (2007-08) … competed for the Tennessee Flight AAU squad since 2009 … finished second at Boo Williams in 2009-11 and won Nike Nationals in 2010 … played for Tennessee Elite from 2005-09 and finished second in the state AAU from 2005-09 … played on her high school tennis team in 2010 and 2011 … the JV player of the year in 2011.

Personal:
Full name is Rebecca Danielle Greenwell … born February 27, 1995 in Evansville, Ind. … daughter of Neal Greenwell and Nicole Elder … has three sisters, Rachel (21), Briley (8) and Emma (5) … her sister, Rachel, currently plays basketball at Bellarmine University … was named to the Academic All-State team as well as National Honors Society in high school.

McCallie on Greenwell:
“Rebecca is an incredible competitor. I have seen her in so many games taking so many tough shots, making those shots and changing the tempo of those games. I have seen it certainly at the AAU level, but she has continued to be a great competitor at the USA level as well. Once she gets in the weight-room, really gets stronger and gets a feel for what it is like to be a strong guard physically, there is absolutely no limit to her skill set. She is fundamentally sound, very creative and savvy on the floor and plays very, very hard.”

USA Basketball Experience:
Invited to attend the 2012 U-17 World Championship trials and the 2011 U-16 National Team Trials.
High school:
Two-time All-Mountain Lakes Player of the Year in 2010 and 2012 … 2012 Region I-3A Player of the Year and three-time Region I-3A first team (2009, 2010, 2012) … Anderson Independent Mail First Team in 2009, 2010 and 2012 … 2012 SC All-State Team … three-time EBA All-American … owns school records in points in a game (46), points in a season (574), free throws in a season (120) and single game free throws (16) … as a junior, averaged 23.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals … tallied eight 20+ point performances and four 30+ point games, including a season high 41 versus Hanna … had two double-doubles … did not play her sophomore year due to an injury … averaged 25.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 4.4 steals as a freshman … had 17 games with 20+ points during her freshman season, including a career high 46 against Belton-Honea Path … earned Region I-3A first team honors, Anderson Independent Mail All Area First team, All-Mountain Lakes Team Offensive Player of the Year and team co-captain as a freshman … Honorable Mention All-Mountain Lakes Player of the Year in 2009 …averaged 11.0 points as a starter in eighth grade … led her squad to the second round of the state playoffs … was the first Seneca eighth grader to earn All-Mountain Lakes team honors … lettered as a seventh grader on the varsity team.

Personal:
Kianna Marie Holland was born on July 24, 1995 in Santa Monica, Calif. … daughter of Lisa and Dan Holland ... has one brother, D.J. (6) … father, Dan, played basketball at Southern Wesleyan University and coached at Tennessee Tech University … Grandfather, Larry Golan, played football and ran track and field at West Virginia University … earned a spot on the honor roll during each semester of high school … a 2012 Wendy’s High School Heisman Winner, an award given to students who excel in learning, performing and leading in the class room, on the field and in the community.

McCallie on Holland:
“Kianna has a command on the floor and a sense of the game. She works very, very hard. In terms of her ball skills, she can really push the tempo and from foul line to foul line she is a neat creator. She uses the foul line well and can create off the bounce. Kianna has a beautiful shot and is a very confident three-point shooter as well as mid-range, which is unusual.”

National Team Experience:
Named to the 2012 USA Women’s U17 World Championship team that won the gold medal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands … averaged 6.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in eight games, including a 10-point and seven rebound performance against Canada in the semifinals.

High school/AAU:
A 2012 Cal-Hi Sports State All-State Fifth Team and Division III first team … All-East Bay first team in 2012 … two-time All-California team … led Bishop O’Dowd to the its first state championship … won the sportsmanship award in the North California Finals, after finishing the game with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks … team captain entering her senior year … as a junior, led her team to a 30-3 record and a Division III state title, averaging 14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks … as a sophomore, averaged 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.0 steals … named All-East Bay Second Team … voted First Team All-HAAL … set a school record with nine blocks against Bishop Gorman … received the West Coast Jamboree sportsmanship award … lettered as a freshman on the varsity squad … plays AAU for Cal Storm-Team Taurasi.

Personal:
Oderah Obiageli Chidom was born on July 9, 1995 in Hayward, Calif. … daughter of Obiora and Gabriella Chidom … has one brother, Arinze (15) and one sister, Amara (13) … named to the Honor Roll and received the Charles E. Delany Scholarship Award.

McCallie on Chidom:
“When Oderah starts lifting more weights and gets stronger it is going to make her quicker and faster down the floor. Rim to rim she is going to have enormous speed and will be very difficult to stay with. Oderah will score inside, but she will also score outside. She has versatility with her game as her ball-handling continues to grow, that will give her more opportunity at the three position. Defensively, she is absolutely terrific. She is quick, she is athletic, she is not afraid to play defense and she is really going to enjoy playing internal stuff as well as on the perimeter.”

2012 USA Basketball U18 National Team:
Named to 2012 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team that produced a 5-0 record and won the gold medal in Gurabo, Puerto Rico … averaged 3.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks … participated in five contests, while starting two … was the youngest player on the squad and only high school player.

Other USA Basketball Experience:
Invited to participate in the 2012 Women’s U17 World Championship Team Trials and the 2011 Women’s U16 National Team Trials.

High school/AAU:
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division IV third team in 2012 and the 2011 Player of the Year (2011) … All-CIF Division 4A first team (2011) … two-time Long Beach Press Telegram Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012 … three-time Dream Team selection (2010, 2011, 2012) … Santa Fe League MVP in 2011 … All-Santa Fe League first team (2010, 2011) … the 2011 Long Beach Century Club Basketball Player of the Year … varsity captain in 2012-13 … in 87 career starts, has totaled 1,189 points, 931 rebounds, 94 assists, 136 steals and 317 blocks … lists career highs of 36 points (vs. St. Paul), 23 rebounds (vs. St. Paul) and 12 blocks (vs. Edison) … as a junior, averaged 14.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 4.4 blocks, while tallying 17 double-doubles, two triple-doubles and seven 20+ point performances … as a sophomore, recorded five 20+ point games, 14 double-doubles and one triple-double vs. South Pasadena … averaged 14.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 3.6 blocks … hit 64.0 percent from the field in her sophomore campaign … Cal-Hi Sports first team in 2010 … guided her team to a 21-9 record … as a freshman, averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.1 blocks … tallied 10 double-doubles during her freshman year, as well as four 20+ point games … her high school team produced a 25-10 record … also ran track and competed in the shot put in high school … plays for AAU for Cal Storm-Team Taurasi as well as Team Xpress, GBL and the South Bay Waves … captain of the team in 2011 and 2012.

Personal:
Full name is Kendall Alesse Cooper … born on Aug. 18, 1995 in Harbor City, Calif. … daughter of Stephanie McCravey-Cooper and Michael Cooper … has one brother, Michael Cooper II (13) and one sister, Jourdan (18) … her cousin, Tony Smith, played basketball at Marquette and for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks … her father, Michael Cooper, played basketball at Cal State Los Angeles … her sister, Jourdan, played basketball at UC Riverside in 2011-12 … three-time member of the honor roll ... member of the National Honor Society … co-founder of the Pink Ribbon Club at St. Anthony, which promotes education, awareness and fundraising to address all types of cancer in women … works with the Matt Barnes Foundation, Athletes vs. Cancer to educate high school athletics on cancer.

McCallie on Cooper:
“Kendall has that ability to play inside out. She can play the five, the four, facing the basket and with her back to the basket. She is very, very aggressive, while not being afraid to be physical and someone who likes to mix it up in the paint and outside the paint. Her biggest asset is her mentality of ‘the more physical the better.’ She has an excellent high-post jumper, she can stretch it for the three ball and has a work ethic and a savvy about her. Kendall wants to be very good, she wants to be able to make it through to the pros. She is very committed and in that way, she is one of the most focused players we have had.”

McCallie and the Blue Devils will feature a roster of 16 next season, including 15 scholarship players. Duke will lose only one senior in May to graduation and will feature one of the deepest teams in school history in 2013-14.

“I know we will have a larger squad next year, but it will be an incredible opportunity this freshman class will have to play with that senior class next year,” said McCallie. “Everyone wants to be a part of something special, perhaps make history together, but there is a huge respect the incoming players have for the current players as well so it is an exciting situation.”

Duke will open the 2012-13 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m., against Presbyterian followed by second contest on Sunday at 2 p.m., versus Iona. Both games will be played at Cameron Indoor Stadium.